Andy Burnham named new Rugby Football League President

Post reporter

Mayor of Greater Manchester and former cabinet minister Andy Burnham began his term of office as President of the Rugby Football League today.

Burnham received his formal chain of office and becomes President while the new Rugby Football League Vice-President is Pat Crawshaw, the Universities and Colleges representative on the Rugby Football League Community Board and Council and a long-term advocate for the community game. She takes on this role from Mark Croston, Director at London Skolars.

Ralph Rimmer, Chief Executive, the Rugby Football League said: “On behalf of the sport, I would like to thank Andy for taking up the Presidency. It is a real honour for rugby league. He is a much admired national figure, a powerful voice for the North West and the Northern Powerhouse agenda more broadly, and the sport has in him a strong and passionate champion. We are delighted that Andy will join the sport at a number of key events throughout his term of office.

"He has made a particular commitment to supporting work across the sport to grow participation, increase inclusion and promote the mental health and wellbeing benefits of being involved in rugby league.

“Thank you to Pat Crawshaw who becomes the new Vice-President. She is the first representative of the community game to become Vice-President; she is a stalwart of the community game, and a passionate promoter of girls’, women’s and student rugby league.”

The Rugby Football League Council meeting agenda, including the Annual General Meeting, covered an update by CEO Ralph Rimmer on the RFL Strategy and Mid-Term Review and Financial Review. Council members were updated on the progress of the 12-18 Review – the largest consultation to date on the youth game, as well as the roll out of the game-wide new Enjoy the Game campaign. Rugby League World Cup CEO Jon Dutton shared the latest on progress on host city bids, World Cup legacy and commercial programmes, and the £25m Government investment in Rugby League, including £10m for grassroots facilities. Rugby Director Kevin Sinfield took Council members through the work and plans of the England Performance Unit and its focus on winning three World Cups in 2021 – Men, Women and Wheelchair.